SYDNEY: Designer shopping destination The Strand has fortified its market position with three new high-end store openings.
Womenswear label Manning Cartell, jewellery brand Spectrum Gems and handbag specialists Crumpler have each opened a boutique at the historic arcade, joining prestigous names such as Alex Perry, Zimmermann, Akira Isogawa, Bettina Liano and Wayne Cooper.
It has been a busy year for the shopping complex with four major fashion names - Terry Biviano, Little Joe, Glamadonna and Fleur Wood - also unveiling flagship boutiques on Level One and Two.
Manning Cartell co-founder Gabrielle Manning said the company, which recently launched its flagship store in Paddington, saw the move to the arcade as a strategic one.
"The customers who shop at [The Strand] are well suited to Manning Cartell."
Crumpler national retail manager Nicole Sydneham said with ten stores nationwide and a growing international stockist base, the handbag brand had been searching for a boutique shopping destination with historical significance.
"We wanted to locate somewhere with a lot of exposure and really liked the historical environment of The Strand. It's a beautiful arcade and provides us with a great opportunity to experiment with the shopping centre environment as a retail space."
Spectrum Gems, which is located on the ground floor of The Strand and recently rebranded from Opal Treasures, will now stock South Sea Pearls and coloured diamonds alongside its famous range of opals.
Spectrum Gems and Crumpler are located on the Ground Floor while Manning Cartell is housed on Level One.